they could have left it today with secretary clinton's statement. i think this was a very deliberate point that the president was making. he is fully engaged in this issue. clearly the president's been briefed, he's talking to his cabinet. we should assume that the united states military has continued the operations on the table fully prepared ready to go. there has been talk about the chemical weapons of syria for months, the military has had time to prepare. the administration has been clear, a military option is not where they want to have to go but i think the president's statement makes the point that they will go there if they have to, and i think that's the right message to send. we cannot permit syria to think using their chemical weapons and sarin gas stockpiles is an option for them. >> you make the important point that when the president gets involved, that's a calculated decision and every word he says is carefully reviewed. he said he had a message to assad and those around him. is that a message about future potential war crimes prosec